clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Red Sox vs. Blue Jays lineups: Boston visits Toronto without David Ortiz

The Red Sox will have to open their series against the Jays without the suspended Big Papi

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox begin another series against yet another AL East team, except this time they'll do it without a pitching coach or David Ortiz. Both of those problems could be solved before Saturday's game, depending on how quickly Boston gets to hiring, but at the least, Ortiz will be back.

In the meantime, the Sox will look to temporary call-up Travis Shaw at first base, bumping Mike Napoli to DH for a day. Shaw is only here until Ortiz is back, and then he's likely headed back to Triple-A Pawtucket to tag-in right-hander -- and now reliever -- Matt Barnes.

Today's Lineups

BOSTON RED SOX TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Mookie Betts - CF Devon Travis - 2B
Dustin Pedroia - 2B Josh Donaldson - 3B
Pablo Sandoval - 3B Jose Bautista - DH
Mike Napoli - DH Edwin Encarnacion - 1B
Daniel Nava - RF Russell Martin - C
Allen Craig - LF Danny Valencia - RF
Blake Swihart - C Kevin Pillar - CF
Xander Bogaerts - SS Chris Colabello - LF
Travis Shaw - 1B Ryan Goins - SS
Wade Miley - LHP Aaron Sanchez - RHP

Wade Miley has not had a great start to 2015, but his previous outing against the Yankees went well, with three runs and no walks over seven innings of work. Another quality effort from the lefty on Friday would go a long ways towards assuaging the fears of the Red Sox and their fans, both of whom need to see more out of the rotation.

As for the Jays, they have their lineup together, minus shortstop Jose Reyes, and are sending Aaron Sanchez -- who has dealt with his own struggles on the mound to begin the year -- against a Boston lineup without either Ortiz or Hanley Ramirez in it. Maybe Napoli will find the homer-friendly confines of Rogers Centre to his liking to help make up for that.